Tales were today emerging of heroic efforts made by some Shropshire people to get home despite the flight ban which has left others stranded and in despair.

David Ellis, from Shifnal, said he “felt like Indiana Jones” after taking a taxi through five countries to get back from Poland.

Mr Ellis spent 15 hours in a taxi and chartered a jet to get home.

His flight was grounded in Krakow on Saturday but he was determined to do something about it.

He said: “I woke up on that last morning and asked my family if they were ready for an adventure.”

Travelling with his fiancée Helen and her son Liam, Mr Ellis jokingly asked a taxi driver in Krakow if he would be willing to take them home to England.

He was astonished when he agreed – only to be told it would cost them £1,000.

Mr Ellis, who owns Millenium Industries Ltd, said: “It was either take the taxi or stay in Poland for maybe another two weeks.”

The family’s luck continued when they met a couple from Hastings in the hotel lobby who were willing to travel with them and split the cost.

The journey took them through Poland, the Czech Republic, Germany, Belgium and France before they got to Calais.

Calais was busy and there were no spaces on the ferries but the couple they were travelling with knew of a company in Hastings that would charter a small aeroplane for them all to get over the English Channel.

Mr Ellis said: “I felt like Indiana Jones.”

Lydd Air flew the five over the Channel under 1,000ft so the volcanic ash would not affect the engine.

The 20-minute flight cost a further £600 between the two couples. And once they landed in Hastings they paid another £200 for a taxi back to their home in Shifnal, arriving on Sunday night.

Mr EIlis said: “We all feel very lucky that everything just fell into place.

“We’re totally shattered and out of pocket but we feel that it was worth it.”

Meanwhile, anguished Shropshire mother-of-two Carolyne Vaughan, of Tern Hill, near Market Drayton, is currently stranded in Innsbruck, Austria, waiting to come home.

She has hit out at the Government for doing too little too late to help other Brits stranded abroad.

Mrs Vaughan, who was supposed to start a new job on Saturday as a community nurse in Wellington, said her money was running out and she had also run out of medication she needed for a health condition.

Mrs Vaughan, who is with her children Thomas,13, and Phillippa, said: “What is the Government doing to help us?

“Nothing as far as I can see. There is no helpline, nothing, no advice for us people stuck abroad with children – even without kids it is hard.

“My money has run out and I am already into a very high overdraft.

“I really don’t know what else to do and I am beside myself with worry as to whether will we get home.”

Six Ludlow residents are expecting to begin a four-day coach trip back home today after becoming stranded in Spain.

Among them is Eric Williams who is parish clerk for Wistanstow, Caynham, Ashford Carbonell, Ludford and Clun and Chapel Lawn parish councils.

He is also the town clerk for Craven Arms and the acting clerk for Richards Castle Parish Council.

Ashford Carbonell Parish Council near Ludlow had to cancel its meeting last night after Mr Williams was unable to return on Sunday as originally planned.

Mr Williams, his wife Ann and their friends Sonia and Tony Lockett and Jenny and John Edwards, all from Ludlow, are due to leave Fuengirola today.

Meanwhile, a group of staff and students from Concord College, near Shrewsbury, including the head of lower school, Gail Denham, are also stranded, this time in Israel.

Principal Neil Hawkins said the college hoped to have about 60 per cent in class tomorrow but when the others would return remained uncertain as there were no flights.

Meanwhile Stottesdon and District Women’s Institute member Stef Bryan is stuck in Portugal with her husband and daughter and hoping to get home by the end of the week.

By Holly Evans and Simon Hardy